Machine for opening or lapping wire drawing dies and the like



D. F. sx-:NGENBERGER 2,366,062

Dec. 26', 1944.

MACHINE FOR OPENING OR LAPPING WIRE DRAWING DIES AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 21, 1945 DCC- 26, 1944. D. F. SENGENBERGER 2,366,062

MACHINE FOR OPENING OR LAPPING WIRE DRAWING DIES AND THE LIKE 4 sheets-sheet 2,

Filed Sept. 2l, 1943 INVENTOR Dec- 26, 1944 D. F. SENGENBERGER 2,366,062

MACHINE FOR OPENING OR LAPPING WIRE DRAWING DIES ANDl THE LIKE Filed Sept. 21., 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 26, 1944. 1 D, F. sENGl-:NBERGER 2,366,062'

MACHINE FOYR OPENING OR LAPPING` WIRE DRAWING DIES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 21, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l therewith, and there-armi; or straight poi-uen h. Patented Dec. 26, -1944 MACHINE Foa OPENING on LAPPING wma DRAWING DIES AND 'rIIE LIKE Donald F. Sengenberger, Waukegan, lll., assignor to The American Steel and Wire Company of New Jersey, a corporation of New Jersey Application September 21, 1943, Serial No. 503,250 n 12 claims. (ci. 51-31)` This invention relates to a' die openingjor lapping machine, and more particularly to an -improved multiple spindle machine, especially aidkaptable for opening wire drawing dies and the e. Wire drawing dies are generally furnished by the manufacturer thereof to the wire or steel industry, either in the form of'blanks which are only partially pierced or blanks completely pierced to a predetermined hole size. Partially pierced die blanks'are provided merely withV a conical-shaped entrance opening and without a bearing portion therein, or opening completely through the blanks. It will be understood that it is the bearing portion that'actually draws the wire to size as it, is pulled through the die. Die blanks are furnished in such condition in order that the user may open them so as'to provide therein a bearing portion or opening of the desired diameter,l being in most cases ne Wire sizes. I

Suchpdie blanks are usually made of tungsten carbide or a similar hard material, andare generally` opened, so as to form the desired entrance angle or contour therein by the process of lapping lor ripping by means of a revolvable tool or drill consisting of a tapered needle or pin having an extremely sharp point for forming.p the opening through the die, blanks. An abrasive material Vpr lapping powder, such as boron carbide,Y silicon carbide, diamond powder `or a similar abrasive mixed with water, Volive oil or any other suitable iiuid is generally 'used` as therabrasive in the lappingy or ripping operation. v

Also. oftentimes it is the practice in the wire industry to enlarge the bearing portion or opening'in-wlre drawing dies so asl to provide a die 4of the;V next larger size. That is, when a die becomes worn out and is drawing oversize wireA and consequently, is ofno further use for draw'- ing the-size wireV for which it was originally intended, the die opening or bearing portion is ripped to the next size or, Vperhaps the second or third .size thereabove depending upon the demand for such size dies and how much oversize the particular diehappens to be. It will be understood that before a used or worn out die can beplaced baclcA inservice' again, it must necessarily' havethe worn, irregular and roughened surfaces rem'oved therefrom beforel being sized and polished. A worn out die generally lfiasan annular? mark on the surface of the entrance angle, i.'e.,` atv the point where the' wire being drawn. enters the Y die and ilrst" makes contact frequently becomes grooved or scratched. Therefore, in order to place` this die in condition for use again, all of the foregoing irregularities must be ,removed therefrom and a smooth contour once again established.

Accordingly, it is the general object 'of the present invention to provide an improved machine which ca'n be conveniently used either for lapping; ripping, opening or polishing the inner contours of wire drawing dies and the like.

It is another object of the invention to provide 4an'improved machine for conditioning wire drawing dies whereinl a multiplicity of die ordie blanks are worked upon by a multiplicity of tools at one time, and a machine wherein thecutting 1 or drilling tools are both `rotated and simultaneously reciprocated relative to their respective dies so as to form properly the contours therein.

It is a further object of this invention .t0 Drovid'e an improved machine for opening wire drawing dies having a multiple of rotatable spindles which is simple `and inexpensive in its construction, and, at the same time, emcient and eifective in its use.

VIt is still another'object of the present invention to provide an improved multiple rotatable spindle machine for opening wire drawing dies.

wherein the opening tools are so disposed-in the spindles so that any cne'or all of the tools may be easily and quickly removed from their position in the machine while the same is in operation.

It is still a further object of this invention '6o provide Van improved means for supporting the cutting or drilling tool in a die opening machine wherein the cuttingor drilling tool is fioati'ngly disposed Y and". frictionally driven so that the weight of the tooll itself is the sole means for feeding the samey into the die.

Various otherobjects and advantages of thisy invention will be more apparent in the course of 4the following specication 'and will be particu-f,

larly pointed out in the appended claims. Y In the accompanying drawings there is shown,

`for the -`purpose of illustration, an embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings? Figure 1. is a plan view of the improved 'maw'ire chine of my .invention -for conditioning drawing dies# -Y o A,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken ori-line lI-II of Figuren' Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line III- met rigurei;

Figure 4 isa sectional view taken on line IV IV of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line V-V of Figure 1 showing how the cutting or drilling tool is disposed in each of the spindles.

-Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved machine of my invention comprises a stationary frame or base 2, upon which there is mounted preferably a horizontally disposed plate-like rotatable platform or turn-table -3. The platform 3 is supported vcentrally there member I0. On the upper side of the plate-like member I adjacent the edge thereof, there is arranged therearound a plurality of spaced apart circular depressions or recesses I2, nineteen in the present instance, with` a hole I3 arranged through the member I0 oppositeeach of the recesses centrally thereof, and communicating therewith. There is adapted to be disposed in each of the recesses I2, a workpiece or circular wire drawing die D to be worked uponI so as to provide a circular arrangement of the workpieces.

Above the plate-like member I0, there is arranged a pair of horizontally disposed vibrating Y plate-like members' I4 and I5, which are preferably spaced apart and Vconnected to each other by means of a plurality of spacer bolts I3. There is carried by the plate I0, preferably a plurality of upwardly extending guide bolts I1 which extend upwardly through both of the plates I4 and I5, and there is arranged on the upper end of each of the bolts I1, preferably a coil spring I8 and a nut I9. The springs |8are positioned directly above the upper plate I4 with the springs adapted to cooperate therewith for .a purpose hereinafter to be described.

'Between the pair of plates |4 'and I5 there is positioned in a circular arrangement, .a plurality of vertically disposed spindles 2|! with the ends thereof suitably journaled in the plates I4 and I5 by means of the roller bearings' 2|( Each of the spindles 20 has an axial hole 22 arranged therethrough in which there is disposed a cylindrical cutting or drilling tool 23. The tool 23 is preferably in the form of a longitudinally extending pin having an extremely sharp tapered fdrilling point 24 arranged on one end thereof.

Each of the tools or pins 23 is preferably of such length that it protrudes from the upper end of the spindle 20 when positioned therein, as more `clearly shown in Figure 5l-of the drawings fora purposel to be later-described. It willbe understood that cach of the spindles 20 is positioned directly above one of the recesses I2 and the workpiece D adapted to be disposedtherein of the plate I0 so that the tool 23 carried thereby is disposed directly 'above the center of the'workpiece or. die. The member 23, instead of a tool, may be a cylindrical tool holder having a chuck arranged on the lower end thereof for holding a relatively small tool in the form of a pin, if

idesired.

Centrally of the plates I0, I4 and I5,and concentric therewith, there is positioned a vertically disposed drive shaft 25 with the lower end thereof positioned in a. suitable bearing 26 carried preferably by an inverted U-shaped bracket member 21 suitably mounted on the rotatable platform 3 and secured thereto centrally thereof preferably by means of cap screws 28. Between the pair of plates I4 and I5, there is securely arranged on the shaft 25 preferably a plurality of pulleys 29, three in the presentinstance, and there is securely arranged on each of the spindles 20, a pulley 30. Vof each of the pulleys 29 of the shaft 25'and a plurality of the pulleys 30 on the spindles 20, in a zigzag manner, a plurality of belts 3|, three in the present instance, so that a *plurality of spindles are driven by one of the belts. In other Words, each of the belts 3| drives a group of spindles, and'all of the groups of spindles are driven simultaneously upon rotation of the shaft 25 through the action of the pulleys 29 securely attached thereto. It will be understood that the pulleys 30 on the spindles 20 are arranged thereon at different levels, three in the present instance, in order to facilitate the horizontal arrangement of the belts 3|.

Preferably at a point below thev lowermost plate-like circular member I0, there is securely arranged on the shaft 25, another pulley 32.

As more clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4 ofv the drawings, there is-arra'nged centrally of the platform 3 and diametrically thereof, a horizon]- tally disposed cam shaft 31, which extends through the bracket member 21 and is preferably'journaled in a pair of spaced apart bearings 38 carried by a pair of spaced bracket members 39 arranged to either side of the bracket 21 and mounted on the platform 3 in any suitable manner. There is securely arranged on lthe cam shaft 31, a pulley 40, and there is disposed around both the pulley 40 and another pulley 4| arranged on the shaft 34 of the motor 33, another belt 42 for driving the cam shaft 31.

There is carried bythe lowermost plate I54 of y l the pair` of plates, lpreferably a pair of spaced apart downwardly extending stud-like members '43,which are preferably diametrically arranged from each other' directly above the cam shaft 31. The stud-like members 43 extend through the lowermost plate I0, and the bottom ends thereof rest against the peripheries of bearings 44 arranged on each end of the cam shaft 31. In other `words, the studs-like members 43 act as cam followers of the cam shaft 31.

As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings,there is mounted on the rotatable platform 3, at a point directly below each of the openings I3 of the circular member I0, preferably a bracket member 45 having an inclined shelf portion 41 on which there is disposed a mirror- 46. Each of the mirrors 46 is so positioned thereon that it can be seen from the outer side of the machine, and so that the under side of the die D4 adapted to be positioned in the recess I2 directly opposite thel hole I3` in the plate III,can be seen orviewed therethrough for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

- v There is also -munted on the upper side of theplatform 3, preferably a pair of spaced apart There is disposed around `one knob-like handle members 43V whereby the platform 3 and the entire machinemay berotated i through 360. There is arranged on the lower erates in the following manner, The workpieces or dies Dare positioned in the recesses I2 of the work -plates I whereby a circulan arrangement of the workpieces or dies is provided. A tool or pin 23 is then inserted in the axial hole 22 of each of-the spindles so 'that the sharpened point 24 thereof contacts the respective workpieces or dies Dpositioned therebelow, as more clearlyshown in Figure 5 of the drawings. The machine is now ready tobe Set in operation, and the motor 33 is energized so as to set the shaft 34, together with the belts 3E and 42 -disposed around the pulleys 35 and 4I, in motion. It will be' seen that upon rotation of the shaft 34 'on the motor 33, that the shaft of-the machine will be rotated due to the action of the belt 3B and the pulley 32. Upon otation of the shaft 25, it will be seen thatall of the spindles 20 are 2.3 is preferably coated with a layer of heavy grease before they are inserted in the axial holes 22 of the spindles 20 in order to-insure aV better frictional contact anda more positive drive between the walls of the holes Athroughv the spindles. Ifa separate tool holder `is used, it will vbe understood that both the tool holder together'l with the tool or pin carried thereby will be oat- Iingly disposed in the axial holes of the spindles.

Uponenergization of the motor 33, it will be seen that the shaft 34 thereof, also drives the .cam shaft 31 due to the/action of the pulleys 40 and 4I and the belt 42 disposed therearound. As

the cam shaft 3l rotates, it will be seen that of plates I4 and I5 arereciprocated -ver-V due to the cooperation ofthe downwardly egrten'ding'stud-iike members 43 'with the roller bearings 44 arranged on either end of the cam shaft 31. In'other words, the pair of plates- I4 and l5 are lifted vertioany upon each revolution i of the cam shaft 31 against the action of 'Tthe coi.1 Asprings Il carried by the guide bolts I1 above the uppermost plate I4. It will be understood that it is the purpose of the coil springs I3 to the ends of the stud-like members 43 bearings 44 so as to provide a relatively quick' return for the pair of plates after they haveA been lifted. vIn other words, the springs Il are provided so as .to prevent' any lag in the downward movement ofthe plates I4 and I5 so that the plates are forced positivelyilownwardly. Itwillbe seen that each of the tools or pins 23 are all rotated atthe same time and si multaneomly reclprocated relative to their respectiveV workpieces or dies D. In the present machine, the plates I4 and I5 are lifted and Alowered approximately one sixteenth of anl inch from their intermediate positions and reciproeste approximately s'zsumes a. minute', the tol-.a1

plate vertical' movement being about one eighth f of an inch. In other words, the ends of the' cam positioned are o-center approximately one sixteenth of an inch on the diameter.

IIt will be understood that each of the tools or pins 23 isV floatingly disposed in the axial hole 22'of each of the spindles 20 and this is one of the most important aspects of the present invention, inasmuch as in any die lapping operations, the point of the tools or pins 23 necessarily have to be reground or 'sharpened periodically in order to maintain the proper taper and point thereon. It is preferable that each of the tools or pins 23 has a relatively close flt with the holes l 22 in the spindles 20, but not too tight a ilt. In

other words, the clearance between the outer' side of the tool 23 and the wall of the hole 22 should be suiilcient to permit telescopic movement' of the tool therein so that the tool can be easily pins 23.v It will be understood that suii'iicierit friction is created between the tool and the walls of the holes in the spindles to cause the tool to belifted during the rotation thereof when the plates I4 and I5, which carry these spindles, are reciprocated thereby permitting suilicient cutting fluid which is manually placed on the workpieces or dies to reach the point of the tool. It will be understood that no feed is provided for ,the tool other than the weight of the toolitself. In other words, it is important that the tool be .of suflicientweight to make it self-feeding.

. To understand the foregoing, it is only necessary to consider that the frictional force given each tool by its spindle depends on the moving direction and speedvof the spindle. Therefore, the rotative force given the tool is sufficient for 40 the tool to do its work since the spln'dle rotates continuously in the same direction at high speed,

and the lifting force is sufllcient to lift the .tool while the spindle moves upwardly but is lnsufilcient to' prevent the tool from falling whenthe spindle moves downwardly. Also, since the force depends ongthe moving speed of the spindle, by rotating the spindle at a peripheral rate exceed- Aing its lineal'speed while moving up anddown.

' adequate rotary force can be given the tool without preventing its being raised -and dropped 4as described.

During the operation of the machine, the mirrors 46 positioned on the under side of the 'workpieces or dies D are periodically observed so y as to view the bottom side of the respective dies positioned thereabove. This is done in order to ascertain when the opening is-completely formed through theworkpieces or dies D. When the tool has passed through any particular workpiece or die, a spot of cutting duid appears on-the' under side thereof and this can be readily seen in the mirrors 43. ABy providing such an arrangement, itwill be seen that it is not necessary to remove the workpieces ordies from the machine for ascertaining whether or'not the opening is completely formed therethrough. It is important that the drilling operation be stopped v and the workpiece or die removed from the ma- .shaft 31 upon which the roller bearings 44`are 7l chine as soon as a hole or opening 'is formed through the workpiece: or dies, in order to prevent the Vforming-.of an 'oversize opening inthe dies. A

The knob-like handles 43 on the platform 3 are provided for rotating the entire machine so as qto make the operationuof the same more .con-

venient for the operator.l In other words, the machine revolves on the tum-table center provided by bearing 4 thereby making it possible for the operator to observe the under side of th`e dieser workpieces by the aid of the mirrors 46 and to remove the dies or tools without being inconvenienced by reaching aroundvany part of the machine. It will be understood, that any one'of the workpieces or dies D, or any one of the tools or pins 23, may be removedV from or replaced in the machine while the same is inv operation. The top plate Il of the pair of plates preferably has openings in the top thereof, as

shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, so as `to facilitate the placing of the belts 3| around the pulleys 30 of thespindles 20 and the pulleys 29 of the shaft 25.

As a result, of my invention, it willbe seen that there is provided an improved machine for opening, ripping, or polishing wire drawing dies which is extremely simple both in its construction and use. uBy providing such a machine, it will beseen that a multiplicity of dies canbe worked om at one time by a single operator. In the machine of my invention, it will be seen that any one of thecutting ordrilling tools may be quicklyand conveniently removed lfrom the machine while the same Ais in operation, and replaced with a new or sharpened tool., It will be seen also that the tools or pins are not only rotated by the machine,v but are likewise reciprocated during the rotation thereof so as to permit the .cutting uid to repeatedly reach the point of the tools or pins, and thus emciently carry out their lapping operations.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my, inventionnas defined in the appended claims.

I claim: i

1. A machine of the class described, including a horizontally disposed member having a plurality of openings arranged therein for holding a vplurality of workpieces, a second horizontally dis-l posed member positioned above said first men- `tioned member, a plurality of revolvable tool holding means rotatably mounted on said last mentioned member with one adapted to be positioned opposite `the positiony each of the work-l Ipieces is adapted Ato assume, each'of said tool holding means ladapted to support a tool for forming a hole in its respective workpiece, means for rotating each of said tool holding means simultaneously, and means for reciprocating vertically said last mentioned member simultaneously with the rotation of the tools carried thereby whereby the tools will be reciprocated relative Vto their respective workpieces.

2. A machine of the class described, as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the tools is floatingly disposed in its respectiveitool holding means so as to be frictionally driven thereby and whereby any one of the tools can be removed from its position therein while the machine is in operation.

3. A machine of theclass described, as defined in claim l,` including a mirror arranged below the first mentioned member directly below y the openings therein for ascertaining when the hole is completely 'formed through the work- 1 piec'e by its respective tool.

4. A machine of the class described, including a `horizontally ldisposed circular plate-like member having a plurality of openings arranged concentrically therein for supporting a plurality of workpieces in a circular arrangement, tl. second horizontally disposed circular plate-like member positioned above said first mentioned plate-like member concentric therewith, a plurality ofv revolvable tool holding spindles mounted on said second'mentioned plate-like member in an annular arrangement concentric therewith with one adapted to be positioned opposite each,

of the openings and the workpiece adapted to be positioned therein of said rst mentioned platelike member, each of said tool holding means adapted to support a tool for forming'a hole in a,workpiece positioned therebelow, a vertically disposed rotatable shaft extending through both of said plate-like members and arranged concentric therewith, means for,.driving said shaft, driving means interconnecting said shaft with each of said spindles wherebyeach of the spin- 'dles together with the tools carried thereby are rotated simultaneously upon rotation of said shaft, and means arranged below said vsecond mentioned plate-like member for reciprocating Y the same vertically whereby the tools carried by 4said spindles will be reciprocated relative to their respective-.workpieces simultaneously with the l rotation 'of the tools.

in claim 4, wherein the means arranged below the 'second mentioned plate-like member for reciprocating the same vertically consists of a horizontally arranged cam shaft including means for driving the same.

7. A machine of the class described, as defined k in claim 4, wherein the means interconnecting the shaft with each `of the spindles for rotating 'the same consists of a plurality of pulleys arranged on said shaft and a pulley arranged on each of said spindles, and a plurality of belts with each of the belts disposed around one of the pulleys on said shaft and several of the pulleys of a groupof said spindles whereby the spindles of each group and al1 of the groups of' of workpieces, a pair of spaced apart horizontally disposed plate-like members arranged above said last mentioned plate-like' member and secured thereto, a plurality of vertically disposed rotatable hollow-spindles circularly arranged between said pair of plate-like members, a vertically disposed removable tool consisting of a pointedpin-like vmember arranged in the hollowportion of each of said spindles, each of said spindles together with the tool carried thereby being positioned directly opposite an opening in said rst mentioned plate-like member, so as to be disposed directly oppositeY the workpieces adapted to be positioned therein, a vertically disposed shaft extending through eachof said plate'- like members and arranged concentric therewith.

at least one pulley arranged on said shaft between said pair of plate-like members, a pulley arranged on each of said spindles, a belt arranged 'around the pulley on said shaft and the pulleys on said spindles, means for rotating said shaft whereby all of the spindles together with the tools carried thereby are rotated simultaneously, and means arranged below the lowermost plate-like member of said pair of plate-like members for reciprocating the same vertically whereby the spindles together with the tools carried thereby will be reciprocated relative to their respective workpieces simultaneously with the rotation of the spindles and tools.

9. In a machine for opening or enlarging wire drawing dies and the like. a horizontally disposed member having a plurality of openings arranged therein in which the dies are adapted to be positioned, a pair of spaced apart horizontally disposed members arranged above said nrst mentioned member and securely attached thereto and to each other, a plurality of vertically disposed axially hollow spindles rotatably arranged bef tween'said pair of members with one arranged directly opposite each of the openings in said first mentioned member.. a removable tool telescopically arranged in the hollow yportion of each of said spindles which is adapted to open or en large the hole in the, respective dies, each of said tools being oatingly disposed in their respective spindles so as to `be driven frictionally thereby and whereby any one of them can be removed from or replaced in the spindles while the same are rotating and the machine is in operation, means for driving each of said spinvdles simultaneously, a camming mechanism arranged below the lowermost member of said pair of members andin engagement therewith whereby the pair of members together with the spindles and tools carried thereby are reciprocated vertically so that the tools are reciprocated relative to l their respective workpieces simultaneously with the rotation of the spindles and the tools carried thereby.

l0. In a machine for opening or enlarging wire drawing dies and the like, the combination as dei'lned in claim 9,lncluding a mirror arranged. below the openings inthe first mentioned member which is adapted to be disposed directly below the die therein whereby the bottom ofthe die can be viewed therethrough so as to ascertain when the tool has completely opened the hole in the respective dies.

11. In a machine for opening or enlarging wire drawing dies and the like, the combination as defined in claim 9, including resilient means arranged above the uppermostmember of the pair of circular members tending to force the same downwardly so as to counteract the upward lift of the same by the camming mechanism for reciprocating the rpair of members whereby the pair of members will be moved rapidly downwardly and maintained in contact with the cam of the camming mechanism.

l2. In a machine for opening or enlarging the openings of wire drawing dies and the like, the combination as defined in claim 9, wherein the ranged on each end thereof which cooperates .with means for lifting vertically the pair of members, and meansfor rotating said cam shaft.

DONALD F. SENGENBERGER. 

